how often do you actually check your deck for safety?

I'm pretty new to the renovation game, but yeah, wood rot is sneaky. When we bought our place last year, the deck looked great - until my foot almost went through a board. Lesson learned: appearances mean nothing! Now I do a quick check every couple months or so. Haven't had wildlife yet (knock on wood), but your possum story has me thinking I should double-check underneath...

Yeah, wood rot can definitely sneak up on you. I usually give my decks a good once-over every season change - spring and fall mostly. It's quick and easy, and I catch stuff early that way. Also, your possum mention reminded me... found a raccoon family under one of my flips last year. Cute, but not exactly ideal tenants, lol. Might wanna peek underneath occasionally just to be safe.

Good call on checking underneath... I learned that the hard way. Last summer I found a whole colony of carpenter ants setting up shop under my deck boards. Not as cute as your raccoons but definitely more destructive, lol. Quick seasonal checks are a lifesaver for sure.

I usually recommend clients do a quick visual check every season - spring and fall especially. Look closely at joints, fasteners, and underneath for moisture or insect signs... carpenter ants love damp wood. Catching issues early saves headaches later on. Did you end up replacing any boards?

Yeah, seasonal checks are definitely worth the effort. I'm pretty new to all this renovation stuff myself, but I found that using a screwdriver or something similar to gently prod suspect areas can help spot soft spots or rot early. Last spring, I noticed a couple of boards felt a bit spongy underneath... ended up replacing them right away. Honestly, catching it early saved me from a bigger headache down the road.